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Using ePassport gates at airport border control

If you have a new biometric ‘chipped’ passport, you can use the automated ePassport gates instead of having your passport checked by a border officer. This means you can avoid the queues and get through passport control more quickly. Find out what the gates are and how to use them.

What the ePassport gates are

To help speed up your time at passport control, there are now ePassport gates at all major airports in the UK. ePassport gates are automated, where a scanner and camera, rather than a border officer, will check your ‘chipped’ passport.

The gates use facial recognition technology to compare your face to the photograph recorded on the ‘chip’ in your passport. Once the check is made, the gate opens automatically for you to walk through.

Who can use the ePassport gates?

To use the ePassport gates, you must have a ‘chipped’ biometric UK or EU passport. These passports have the biometric logo on the front cover. See ‘What are biometric passports?’ for more information about ‘chipped’ passports.

You don’t need to register your details anywhere before using the ePassport gates.